Category Archives: Christmas

A Few Moments at the Manger – A Christmas Eve Sermon/Monologue

Posted on December 27, 2017 by pastordavesimpson

  (A podcast of this sermon is available here.) Worship Assistant: A few days ago, one of Pastor Dave’s Facebook Friends posted a clip from a 1980 television special called “Mr. Krueger’s Christmas.” In the program, Mr. Krueger, played by … Continue reading →

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“Fear Not” – The Angels’ Prescription for the (White) American Church

Posted on December 21, 2017 by pastordavesimpson

This time of year we sing “Joy to the World.” But if we’re honest, we’ll acknowledge that too often what we bring to the world is fear. The Washington Post published a prescient article this week by Charles Mathewes, a professor of … Continue reading →

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The Celebration of Christ’s Birth Asks for Divorce

Posted on December 18, 2017 by pastordavesimpson

Dear Secular Christmas, It’s time for a divorce. Time for Secular Christmas and The Celebration of Christ’s Birth to make a clean break. We have tried so hard to make this marriage work. But this is no longer a partnership. … Continue reading →

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Making the Devil Mad (or something like that)

Posted on December 17, 2016 by pastordavesimpson

The funeral last week celebrated the life of a dear 84-year old woman who I will especially miss because she lived on the route I take daily to walk my dogs.  Before it got too cold in the past few … Continue reading →

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“The Force Awakens” – A Christmas (Eve) Sermon

Posted on December 26, 2015 by pastordavesimpson

(You can listen to a podcast of this message here.  The telling of the Christmas Gospel on which it is based, Luke 2:1-20, can be heard here.) If the Star Wars universe was Lutheran, every time someone said, “May the … Continue reading →

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Joseph Did You Know?

Posted on December 15, 2015 by pastordavesimpson

It was a wonderful half hour. It happened on the day my daughter, Autumn, was born.  She emerged into the world through a C-Section, and after the doctor was done with the delivery, and the nurses were through weighing her and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Christmas, Father, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

How Is Jesus Like a Lump of Coal?

Posted on December 4, 2014 by pastordavesimpson

It’s Countdown to Christmas Time, and that means the sneaky spooky spying Elf on the Shelf is back. Like a member of the North Korean Secret Police, the little informer keeps tabs on folks and reports back to the Dear … Continue reading →

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The War on Rohatsu-Bodhi Day, and Gantan-sai, and . . .

Posted on November 22, 2014 by pastordavesimpson

Between now and New Year’s Day: November 23 – Christ the King (Christian) November 24 – Guru Tegh Bahadur martyrdom (Sikh) November 26 – Day of the Covenant (Baha’i) November 27 – Thanksgiving November 28 – Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i) … Continue reading →

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O Dangerous Night! (A Christmas Eve Sermon)

Posted on December 25, 2013 by pastordavesimpson

(You can listen to a podcast of this message here.) Looking back, one of the reasons I rejected faith in God and especially the church when I was a young adult was that I thought Christianity had nothing to do … Continue reading →

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Santa Is Spelled with the Same Letters as Satan!

Posted on December 17, 2013 by pastordavesimpson

Yeah, the title is a little over the top, but I figured it would get more hits than my first idea, “Santa Is Just Alright with Me.”  Lots of folks are probably too young to remember the Doobie Brothers, anyway. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments